ABC Family Brings Books to Life

ABC Family premiered Pretty Little Liars, based on the series of young adult novels of the same name by Sara Shepard, over the summer, receiving outstanding ratings. It’s a huge hit for the network and will be back on January 3rd, which might be why they are developing two more series based on young adult novels. One of them is based on another novel from Sara Shepard called The Lying Game. This novel hasn’t even been published yet (release date is December 7^th) and ABC Family has already picked it up. The other series in development is Nine Lives, based on the young adult novels in the Nine Lives of Chloe King series by Celia Thomson. ABC Family seems to be actively seeking out popular young adult novels to bring to the screen. The network also aired Huge, based on the novel of the same name by Sasha Paley. Ten episodes were shown over the summer but, unfortunately, it has not been renewed for another season. How will Nine Lives and The Lying Game do? Only time will tell, but if they are anything like Pretty Little Liars, ABC Family will have two more hits.
 
Another notable new project from ABC Family is The Great State of Georgia from author Jennifer Weiner. Weiner wrote several novels, including In Her Shoes, Good in Bed, and her latest Fly Away Home. Unlike the dramas discussed above, this show will be a half-hour sitcom. It will follow in the footsteps of the network’s current, hugely successful half-hour comedy Melissa & Joey, which just had its first season extended to an unheard of 30 episodes. ABC Family has struggled in the sitcom area with shows like Roommates and Ruby & the Rockits, which both failed to make it to second seasons. However, they have struck gold with Melissa & Joey. Hopefully, The Great State of Georgia will be able to make it on a network that only has one popular sitcom under its belt.

Here are some descriptions from ABC Family of these new projects:

Nine Lives: a one-hour drama based on the book series The Nine Lives of Chloe King, by Celia Thomson. Chloe King is looking forward to celebrating her 16th birthday with her friends and single mother, just like every other year – until she starts developing heightened abilities (super speed, agility, hearing…claws), and discovers she’s being pursued by a mysterious figure. Chloe soon learns she’s part of an ancient race who have been hunted by human assassins for millennia —and that she may be their only hope for ultimate survival.   
　
The Lying Game: a one-hour scripted drama based on the upcoming novel by Sara Shepard – the author who wrote the books Pretty Little Liars is based on! This new series will follow Emma, a kind-hearted foster kid who can't catch a break. She finds out she has an identical twin sister, Sutton, who - unlike Emma - was adopted by wealthy parents and is seemingly living an ideal life. After their initial meeting, Sutton talks Emma into stepping into her life for a few days while she pursues a lead on their birth mother. Initially excited to do this favor for her sister, Emma soon learns that Sutton has gone missing and could be in trouble. Now, Emma must decide whether to come clean to Sutton's family and risk her own safety in the hope of uncovering her twin sister's true whereabouts, along with the truth about why they were separated in the first place.

The Great State of Georgia: a comedy series about an exuberant plus-sized performer from the south and her science geek best friend who try to make headway in New York City. Pilot writers are Jennifer Weiner (author of the best-selling novels Good in Bed and In Her Shoes) and Jeff Greenstein (Desperate Housewives, Parenthood, Friends and Will & Grace).

What do you think about these new shows? Are you looking forward to them? Do you think networks will continue to develop novels for television? Do you watch Pretty Little Liars? Did you watch Huge? Do you know of any other shows based on novels? Let us know!

Nancy

Friday Flick: Life As We Know It

Life As We Know It starring Katherine Heigl and Josh Duhamel came out in theaters today. I highly recommend it. I was a bit skeptical going into it and thought it might be another awful romantic comedy since I felt like I got the entire story from the commercials. But, I was pleasantly surprised. I really enjoyed it and I think you will enjoy it too. If you haven’t seen any of the many commercials over the past few weeks, it is basically about two single people (Heigl and Duhamel) who have to raise their deceased best friends’ one year old daughter. You can probably guess how this movie ends but the journey the characters take to get there is well worth it. I don’t want to ruin any of the movie for you since it is already somewhat predictable, so I’ll keep this short. Go see Life As We Know It if you get a chance. I think even guys will like this one.

Have a great weekend! And don’t forget to play Find That Quote here. We’ll announce the winner on Monday!

Nancy

Giuliana & Bill: Real-Life Romantic Comedy

I am really looking forward to reading the new book by Giuliana and Bill Rancic, I Do, Now What?: Secrets, Stories, and Advice from a Madly-In-Love Couple. I first saw Bill on The Apprentice several years ago and was somewhat familiar with Giuliana as the host of E! News. But I really became a fan of theirs when I started watching their reality show Giuliana & Bill, dubbed the Style Network’s real-life romantic comedy. They are such a quirky, fun couple who seem like genuine people, sharing their lives with the public. I am usually a bit skeptical of celebrities who let the public into their private lives, especially because of the whole Newlyweds disaster with Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey. However, Giuliana & Bill are different. If you have watched their show, you know what I am talking about. If you haven’t watched it, you should tune in on October 11^th when the show’s third season premieres. They are so down-to-earth and deal with actual issues and tough situations that couples face. They have been open about their struggle to conceive and will reveal how they are dealing with a miscarriage on the new season of their show. Some might disagree with their decision to detail such painful, private issues but I think they are brave to share their story that could, in some way, help others. Their show documents the good times and the struggles of a real couple, which is so refreshing. Giuliana and Bill prove that celebrities are human just like everyone else and their lives are not all glitz and glamour. I really hope they beat the Hollywood odds and stay together.

To learn more about Giuliana and Bill, check out their Twitter accounts, @GiulianaRancic and @BillRancic

Have you watched their show or read their book? What do you think about their decision to open up about their private lives? Do you think they are sincere? What other reality TV couples do you watch? Please share your thoughts with us.

Nancy

First vs. Third: Which POV is better?

The point of view (POV) from which a story is told is a very important part of any novel. The trademark style of chick lit is first person conversational. The protagonist tells the story like she is the reader's best friend. All of the details are very personal to the main character. The first person POV can really connect readers to the main character on a deeper level. In a recent interview with Sophie Kinsella, she said that fans of her Shopaholic series told her they often ask themselves, "What would Becky do?" They are, of course, referring to Becky Bloomwood, the charming protagonist who tells her stories directly to readers through Kinsella's use of the first person POV. This is an example of how much readers can become attached to characters and love them as if they were real friends. Can the same be said of characters whose stories are told through third person POV? I enjoy different writing styles and different points of view. However, I have noticed that my favorite books are in first person. Is that just a coincidence or another example of how important the conversational tone is to chick lit? The advantage of third person is that several different characters' points of view can be featured throughout the book. This gives readers more of a whole picture of the story, rather than only seeing the story through the eyes of the main character's personal account. However, the first person POV allows readers to be so close to the story that they almost feel like they are part of it.

What do you think? Which POV is better? Can readers connect better to stories told in first person? Are third person stories taken more seriously than first person stories? Do you have any examples of exceptional first person and/or third person chick lit?

Nancy

Hats Off to TV's Groundbreaking Female Characters

I saw Marlo Thomas promoting her new book Growing Up Laughing: My Story and the Story of Funny on The Today Show recently. Thomas tells her own story of how comedy has played an important role in her life and the lives of other notable comedians. I love her 60s sitcom That Girl. It is one of my favorite TV shows. Her character, Ann Marie, was groundbreaking for women. Ann Marie was an aspiring actress who moved to New York City alone to pursue her career. Sounds like many of the protagonists in chick lit, doesn’t it? A single girl trying to make it on her own in the city and succeed in her career while dating. One of my favorite episodes is called "Anatomy of a Blunder." In this episode, Ann and her boyfriend, Donald, set out to visit her parents where Donald will meet them for the first time. One their way there, so many things go wrong for Donald. They have the audience wondering whether or not they will even make it to her parents’ house. This episode reminds me so much of the novels in this genre. Ann Marie is free-spirited and optimistic while Donald is more rational and practical. In this particular episode, the roles are reversed from what was usually seen on television at that time and it was Donald who needed Ann’s help. Ann had to come to his rescue. During the last season, Ann and Donald got engaged but the series did not end with their wedding. This was done on purpose to show girls that marriage might not be the goal for every woman, which is okay. Ann and Donald make a great duo, like many of the couples in chick lit. Usually, to form a great comedic couple on screen or in novels, there are distinct differences in personality that make both characters necessary to balance each other out and be the catalysts for humorous situations. Another single-in-the-city-working-woman was shown in the 70s sitcom The Mary Tyler Moore Show. It was also a groundbreaking show (and another one of my favorites) that followed the life of Mary Richards, an independent career woman in her thirties who had never been married. Mary dates during the series but remains single. Both of these sitcoms were and still are empowering for women. I think we should thank sitcoms like That Girl and The Mary Tyler Moore Show for paving the way and showing everyone that it is okay to be an independent woman. They broke the mold and portrayed a different kind of female character than what was traditional. These characters and the actresses who played them are inspiring to so many people. They didn't tell everyone what women should and shouldn't do but, instead, they showed us that women have options. 

What other classic TV shows showed women in non-traditional roles? What other shows, films, and/or books have been groundbreaking for women?

Nancy